puppy

noun

Definition of puppynext
as in pup

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of puppy Up on a hill overlooking Sarajevo, Karadžić, the proud champion of his nation, huddles inside a little red pod, formerly part of a cable car, trying to make a phone call to his wife while petting a puppy that larks around at his feet. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 If your older dog always is on the losing end of things, that’s an indication the puppy is playing too hard. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026 Raphie Shin and Daniel Lepore adopted a Cane Corso puppy almost two years ago, a welcome addition to the military family. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 Watch this video to see what really happens when The Dogist spots a puppy. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puppy
  1. pup
  2. whelp
  3. puppy dog
Noun
  • Salsa was rescued once as a pup during an Unprecedented Mortality Event, released in 2015, re-stranded due to a fishing entanglement and deemed non-releasable by the federal government.
    — Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The pup settled comfortably into his arms and even fell asleep as the couple continued their host chat.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pup
Noun
  • Unlikely Meathead, a whelp who spoke from a position of occasionally whiny, frequently wet-behind-the-ears insulation from life’s realities, Reiner had gray in his beard and a lengthy track record of using his podium for good.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of whelp
Noun
  • You might be tempted by that pair of puppy dog eyes in the pet store window.
    — Jane Sykes, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Kenny is super likable but kind of just follows Boyd around like a puppy dog.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of puppy dog

Browse Nearby Words

pupping
puppy
puppy dog
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Cite this Entry

“Puppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puppy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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